The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-12-03

."s 'eetn' rather too large, perhaps,
ior perfect beauty. but still effective.
When the geranium had been pinned
in place George turned to his COM
panions: Mrs. Fox" he said, with
Difference, 'let me present my friend
MIR. MI" and he hesitated.
"Ruthven." rather sternly mi ected
that young man, advancing to the
counter. He felt, he did not know WHY,
that If George had attempted to con-
ceal his identity under an assumed
name he could have found the energy
to kick him.
Mrs. Fox slightly inclined her head,
with its massive coils of inky hair, in
acknowledgment of Ruthven's grace.
full salutation. He choose TO leave the
selection of a 'button-hole' to her, he
said. and felt strangely gratified when
she ignored apyramid of brilliant rose
buds and adjusted tiny spray of lilies
of the valley in his dress-coat, at the
same time pinning back the lapel Of
his light overcoat in order to protect
the flowers. He looked down as she did
so, and noted the tapering fingers and
wonderfully polished rosebud nails at
their extremities.
A few remarks on ordinary topics
and the two left the shop, George lin
gering behind an instant. as his Gus
tom was, for an individual adieu.
Ruthven, CHANGING back, experienced
q thrill of unaccoun,able annoyance
on beholding the young man in an.
other extremely devotional attitude,
and the widows carnation lips parted
again in her same dazzling smile.
:, "Well." asked George, e~xpectantly
linking his arm in that Of his compan'
ion, "what do you think of her, hey?''
"She is hardly beautiful rejoinet
Ruthvcn, slowly, after q long pause
land l do not like masculine women
And yet-shc preferred lilies to roses
Yes, I think that in strict justice l owe
YOU the CLANS and absinthe. II SHOULD
call your friend symphony in lilies
At the opera that night Ruthve'
was rather more cynical and alb
sent-minded than usual. Afte
appointing n rendezvous with hi
young friends for midnight, h
avoided them. The many %acquaint
ances whom he visited in their boXe
during the evening rallied him on hi:
apparent indifference to the dual charm
of Sembrich and Scalehi. something
was v known TO have exhibited
before. Usually on such nights hi
glance was fixed immutably upol
the stage. and the expression Of hi
face one of unconcealed delight, music
being the one thing he permitted him
self to grow enthusiastic about. To
night his eyes scarcely left the pcal
in the center of his shirt-front. and hi
, brow wore an distracted, puzzled Il:
: pect that gave evidence of some intri
cate problem under consideration with
} in.
! 10 his betrothed, q sweet-faced, ye
low-haired girl who sat with her ariS
: tocratic mamma in the center OF til
:. parquette, he was. as usual, deferer
: tial, yet gay; witty, but subdued. 81
/ had always, as q matter OF course, COZ
/. silercd HIM the most brilliant, as wei
as loveable of men, and found no reaso
to change her opinion Tonight. Whe
he stood bareheaded atthe carriage VII
/ dow and babe the two ladies goo'
2 night, the big blue eyes Of the young'
shone in the glare of the street lam
| hard by with all TILT II lover won!
have them do; and as the vehic
rolled away, leaving him there, Il
t yellow curls went down on IL
mothers willing breast, as their ownC
sighed forth the customary: so,
A mamma, can you wonder that 10y
him?"
Unaccountable as it seemed to hin
self, the following day found Rnthve
at the flowcr-shop on the little 81,
| street inwardly criticising that wol
derful smile. He was w~eil-known /
h the neighborhood, and the fl orist, wi
: had read his verses. and had heard {
| his repeated refusals 10 be led thithe
: was a little surprised. When the me-
: day. passed without his appearance
however, > he concluded IN
}, was the last she Won
y sec of him, which conclusic
was very rudely shattered the cnsui''
If evening, when he walked in and o
dcred six OF seven dollars worth
= lilies for his sweetheart. And t
next day, and the next. he came, quie
synical and self-possessel as eve
He ordered flowers at every visit, Al
the most punctilions Of critics cor
not have discovered the vistisc OF sc
timcnt in his demeanor toward
! widow.
J And she? Well, she had not hit
-AaaI